Managing a Football Club in Nigeria - The Human Resources Aspect

 

The management of human resources is a component essential in a football club, an area in continuous expansion in what concerns theoretical, methodological and applicative research, this being one of the direct consequences of evolution in the management practice and thought.

 The scientific approach is needed based on the conviction that success, performance and competitiveness of a football club depend largely on the quality of the employees. 

The quality management of employees in a football club make the difference in the use of human resources theories and  practice in the provision of competitive services and support in achieving the club's goals and objectives. This is why I would like to emphasize in this article the potential of human resources management in a football club, a field known more for its effects and less for the scientific aspect of the issues involved.

Employees in a football club include coaches, players, backroom staff, support excutives and management staff. They work together to achieve the overall success of the club. Based on resources available and projected over a period the human resources manager factors salaries, bonuses, welfare packages,  disciplinary measures, logistics that will continuously motivate the team to achieve set targets and goals for the season. 

The management must set a model on how a club can be positioned as a regional, national, continental or global brand. And decide weather to out rightly employ established top class players and coaches or build young talents from the youth team, academies, amateur clubs  and develop them to the quality standard required, maybe, sell them later to financial buoyant clubs for profit. 

Most clubs operate a mixed model, where the club employ some established top class players and mix them with some outstanding talents discovered from grassroots. 

To make the best of these models require a very experienced and football knowledgeable human resources (HR) person to head the department. He/she will then, employ scouts on permanent or freelance bases to discover young talents as well as convince some big players to come play for the club. 

It is important that the HR liase with the accountant and head of marketing as the case may be, to analyse the resources that can be available for a projected period. This will determine the kind of players the club can afford to employ. 

It is also important to give each player an employment contract, with well specified agreement in gray areas such as salaries, bonuses and other welfare packages. The player on the other hand should understand conduct and performance standard required of him. The truth is, most players would want to play well at all time, because their future largely depend on their quality play and performance standard. 

Type of Coach:

The type of coach the HR will employ depend on two major factors: the model and the playing culture or philosophy of the club. 

Remember, most fans follow a club based on their playing philosophy and the stars making impactful play in most games. Yeah, they also love to see new outstanding talents showing up on the big stage. So only coaches who can successful guide the players along such culture should be employed. 

If a club decide to operate a High powered model, where they employ only stars and established top class players then, they need a coach that can manage the whims and caprice of these class of players. The players of this class cannot be treated like developing talents. There are usually ego spill and the coach must have capability to handle team conflicts of such high level. 

The performance level and set target of such high powered model are usually high..hire and fire is also high. If the coach did not meet set target he is most likely to be sacked immediately. Club at this level depend on winning trophies to satisfy fans and sponsors as well as attract new ones. 

Type of Players

The type of player the HR will employ will also be based on the model and the playing culture the club has adopted over time. 

A club adopting the developmental model, should have a very vibrant feeders team and scouts with eagles eyes to discover hidden exceptional talents across the country and beyond. A club that adopted this model must employ a developmental coach and be patient with player's performance as they nurture them to be better. 

The club may not attract blue chips sponsors, but would rather depend on the transfer market operation to make profits. 

Breach of Contract and Disciplinary Measures

This is a very important area. The club managers should not deliberately breach the contract they have with a player or it will demotivate such player from putting his/her best. There should be a clear rule and regulations to discipline as well as severe the contract of undisciplined player or other member of the staff.